Moscow: H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, attended the closing ceremony of an international symposium organized by the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities in collaboration with the Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities and the Religious Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation. The gathering took place at the Grand Mosque Centre in Moscow under the theme 'The Role of the Family in Empowering Society.'
According to Emirates News Agency, the symposium was graced by the presence of His Eminence Sheikh Rawi Gainuddin, Grand Mufti of the Russian Federation, alongside H.H. Sheikh Saif. A significant moment of the event was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities and the Religious Administration of Muslims of Russia. The agreement involves the inauguration of an Islamic Cultural Centre in Moscow, an initiative aimed at fostering cultural convergence and promoting values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The symposium witnessed participation from a diverse array of experts and specialists from the UAE and Russia, including diplomatic representatives from Arab and Islamic countries, academics, religious figures, and thinkers. Discussions centered on the importance of the family as the foundation of societies, emphasizing its role in instilling human values and preserving societal security and identity.
The event also featured religious leaders from various faiths and social experts, who engaged in interfaith dialogue focused on family protection and societal cohesion. The symposium highlighted religious values in preserving family structure and addressed contemporary challenges such as family disintegration, cultural influences, and technological impacts on parenting and family relationships.
In addition to the symposium, H.H. Sheikh Saif toured the "Minarets of the Two Capitals" exhibition at the Moscow Grand Mosque. Organized by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre and the Religious Administration of Muslims of Russia, the exhibition aims to reinforce cultural and religious ties between the UAE and Russia. It showcases architectural and artistic creations of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and includes a mobile library with publications from the Centre.
Dr. Yousef Al Obaidli, Director-General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Ambassador to the Russian Federation, and other officials were present at the exhibition. H.H. Sheikh Saif also explored the Moscow Grand Mosque, appreciating its architectural splendor and learning about its historical significance and role in promoting cultural and interfaith dialogue. The UAE has supported the mosque since its reopening in 2015, contributing to its humanitarian and charitable projects.